Birmingham City

Response from Birmingham City
“Thank you for your reply. I can confirm this has been raised with the relevant departments to ensure correct information is being relayed in the away end. We have dedicated disability liaison stewards who help on the matchday with any queries so this should have been raised to them. They wear white hi-vis vests and are deployed in every stand. They even have a radio in which they can call the response team for assistance should there be anything they are not aware of.

Our stance is the wheelchair platform is open to supporters who have a match ticket in that bay only. If there was to be any change, our matchday disability liaison officer, Simon Hall, would have personally come to the away end and have addressed all supporters on this. As the messaging was not carried through, this did not reach the liaison team. Therefore, I do apologise for this as this is not how we operate.

I have spoke with the liaison team so going forward this is looked into further and that more presence is needed in the away end. I can assure you; this situation will not occur again for any of our home matchdays including Lincoln also. Should there be any way I can assist, I am happy to do so prior to the game and during also to provide my support.”

Response from Birmingham City
“Thank you for your reply. I can confirm this has been raised with the relevant departments to ensure correct information is being relayed in the away end. We have dedicated disability liaison stewards who help on the matchday with any queries so this should have been raised to them. They wear white hi-vis vests and are deployed in every stand. They even have a radio in which they can call the response team for assistance should there be anything they are not aware of.

Our stance is the wheelchair platform is open to supporters who have a match ticket in that bay only. If there was to be any change, our matchday disability liaison officer, Simon Hall, would have personally come to the away end and have addressed all supporters on this. As the messaging was not carried through, this did not reach the liaison team. Therefore, I do apologise for this as this is not how we operate.

I have spoke with the liaison team so going forward this is looked into further and that more presence is needed in the away end. I can assure you; this situation will not occur again for any of our home matchdays including Lincoln also. Should there be any way I can assist, I am happy to do so prior to the game and during also to provide my support.”

I attended the FA Cup 3rd round tie with my partner/ PA as an away supporter. Our tickets where for the disabled platform around midway up the lower stand for visiting supporters, But unfortunately all disabled fans were being told that we wasn’t going onto the platform like our tickets stated and was told to use the spaces at the bottom of the stand. The view is very disappointing as you are sat lower than the pitch with stewards and photographers stood or sat on little stools in the way. After not seeing much of the first half we spoke with other disabled Lincoln fans and they felt the same. We spoke to the stewards and a supervisor said he would move the stewards and photographers up which he did but they still got in the way of your view. When Lincoln scored in the second half a lot more stewards stood in front of us so we couldn’t see any of the celebrations. I said to a steward in front of me that they are in the way and we could not see to be told “shut up and we will move when we are ready”
Lincoln play Birmingham away again in March and I’ve been promised by a supervisor that disabled away fans will be able to use the raised platform so I’m hoping this will be the case.

Birmingham needs to do better for disabled fans in the away stand, the disabled fans were not allowed to the platform that was designed for them and then stewards & photographer blocked their view and had advertisement boards in the way of disabled fans as the pitch is raised which also had cable covers making it hard for wheelchairs and disabled fans to walk, they also put tarpaulin on seats that were paid for seats by away fans and causing a bottleneck which was unsafe for fans as they were getting crushed trying to find a seat or leave the food area, plus the disabled toilet was unsanitary as the bathroom floor was slippery and the toilet didn’t flush. The image is from a carer seat perspective behind disabled fans.

Facilities for disabled have definitely spiralled downwards for away supporters. Despite booking a headset commentary in advance. There was no knowledge for assistance stewards. Even being told that if my carer wished to obtain one he had to go round to reception and pick it up. Got all the directions then was told if you go out for it there is no readmission permitted. The wifi is poor so use of a phone was impossible. Go to many away grounds but I rate this the worst for away customer service

Having been to St Andrews on many occasion, but obviously not throughout Covid, it was nice to see that nothing has changed, when it comes to disabled away fans it’s a very helpful club. We are in a raised area and have a ecent view of the game, the only little gripe is that we have to go through the home fans to get in & out of our area, but it’s quite a friendly atmosphere, unlike another club in this league who will remain unnamed. A lovely big car park is situated near the away end which is a bonus. All in all a very pleasant ground.

whilst accsess once in the ground is average, there being no parking close enough to the ground or parking bays for disabled that are not season ticket holders, i find the walking distance for someone that uses walking sticks very difficult to cope with . Hence this season i have not been able to attened my beloved Birmingham City , and having been a loyal fan for over 50 years it is something i find very upsetting .

The coach park is conveniently outside the away end then you have to go through a line of stewards who check bags etc take bottle tops off etc.

Its then a long walk down a steep slope and along the length of the stand to the lift to go to the elevated wheelchair area which is at the other end of the stand enroute through the home fans.

Once in there it was obvious that it would be cramped as there were 6 wheelchairs due in. Once the 6 were in place the carers could not sit in the carer seats as if they did they would not see the game at all. To top it all carer seat that I was sold no 21 row 14 was missing altogether. The area is lined out for 8 but only 6 can get in.

The toilet is just round from the area and is clean.

There is a hostess service at half time which is nice.

On leaving the area the way out is not marked and you have to go through home fans area and 2 doors to get to the lift which makes it difficult to find. The lift only takes 1 at a time. You then have to negotiate the steep slope to the coach park.

There is also a wheelchair area pitchside but the carer have to sit behind the rail not beside the wheelchairs. Not good if you need to assist the person you are caring for.

Our second trip to St Andrews as away fans, the first being about 6 years ago. As then we travelled with our Club’s official away travel and were parked very conveniently at the away fans entrance. Nearby is a large retail park and around the ground are numerous “burger vans”, one I noticed was advertising a hot drink and foot long hot dog for £3.

In front of the away fans entrance we were met with a line of stewards who thoroughly searched all our bags. All tops from our drinks bottles (including water) had to be removed to be allowed into the ground. The entrance for away wheelchair fans is through a gate to the left of the away fans turnstyles.

Facilities in the Ground for Away Wheelchair Fans

Viewing Areas

The previous wheelchair spaces at pitch level seem to have disappeared, leaving the only spaces for away wheelchair fans about mid-height in the away stand as per Gary Deard’s photo from 2008 with carer seats alongside, room for about 6 wheelchair users (possibly more). Excellent view, with seats all around, you very much feel part of the away crowd. The downside is that it is a pretty long journey to get there! This starts with a steep downhill upon entering the Ground, at the bottom of which we were met by a steward who then walked with us to the other end of the stand, up in a lift and back the length of the stand to come out to the raised platform. If this journey sounds as if it would present problems for you I would ring the Club beforehand to request help.

Refreshments

The steward who showed us to our seat asked us what free drink we would like and he brought these to us just before half-time. Much appreciated, particularly as the refreshment area was not difficult to get to, albeit crowded.

Accessible Toilets

On the left just prior to the raised viewing area. Large, left hand transfer. Clean. Hot water. Handwash and hand towels.

Headset Commentaries for Visually Impaired Fans

Birmingham FC’s web site states that commentaries are available from Reception for a £5 deposit. I emailed reception and within one working day they emailed back to confirm a steward would be able to supply my husband with a headset without a deposit and without us having to find Reception. This happened. My husband said the commentary was helpful and unbiased. He was particularly pleased to have for the first time (he has had commentaries at many grounds) a female commentator.

Attitude of Club Officials

All the stewards we met were helpful and friendly.

After the Match

Escorted back to the car park and the official travel were given a police escort from the Ground. Traffic in Birmingham heavy as you would expect but no excessive queues.

Will We go Again?

Would happily go to St Andrews again.

Attended match with a group of ambulant disabled supporters with learning disability and one with limited mobility and their helpers. We were seated on the front row and had a good view although had to negotiate with the stewards who initially stood right in front of us! Stewards were very attentive and freindly.

My good Villa friend Wend is severly disabled, and a wheelchair user. Wednesday night at St Andrews she had to be carried down stairs by stewards because the lift broke. The disabled toilets were smashed up so she had to use the mens. She was a few seats away from being hit by a flare. This has made me cry, a true and loyal Villa fan being treated like a third class citizen

First visit to St.Andrews, Ground easily found when travelling from the south Coventry road, Disabled parking free and in the same car park as visiting coaches, Main car park attendant wasn’t aware of this so go staraight to visitors car park. Entry to ground through big gates for all fans so no problem, Large ramp down to entrence into stadium can be a bit of a push back up hill on way out.

I was in raised area, even though the LFC fans stood up still had an unobstructed view so this was a plus. Had to be taken there via a lift in the home section. I could see the pitch side wheelchair position ,looked a little crowded in front of them, as all the photographers were seated in front but can’t say what the view was like.

No free drink or pies for us I wonder why. Toilet ok once the none disabled stopped using them. Stewards very helpful and keen to assist all in all not a bad day other than the result.

Would return again with no worries almost perfect other than the pitch side spaces.

Very well looked after, stewards friendly and we recieved a voucher for a FREE hot drink and pie at halftime, a nice gesture on a bitterly cold day. Disabled toilets had easy access and a very pleasurable experience. Looking forward to returning next season.

View from elevated position – away wheelchair section

Pitchside positions – away fans in wheelchair view